Newly-Minted Professional League WNBL Targets January 2021 Debut

The future of women's basketball in the Philippines just reached new heights with the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) finally granted the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) to operate as the first-ever professional women's basketball league in the country. 

In the words of WNBL Executive Vice President Rhose Montreal, "The WNBL was built because of the clamor of collegiate players who have no longer aspiration after college."

While professional sports in the country is still trying to regain its composure as the world is still living during a time when the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is still a threat, aspiring Filipina hoopers have something to look forward to as the WNBL announced that it targets January 2021 as the start of the league's second season- first as a professional league. 

The good news is: even older players who for Montreal, can still play ball, are welcome to apply to join the WNBL Draft which is set for October this year. "When it comes to the age requirement, for me, as long as they can play, let's welcome them," Montreal said. She also believes that the 40 years old age cap that NBL Commissioner John Edward Aquino put can be extended as we've seen many players who are way beyond their prime years still actively playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). 

In a year that is filled with uncertainties, Filipino basketball fans will have another league to look forward to come January 2021.  More importantly, Filipina hoopers will now have a league that they can jump to after college.

Photo is from ESPN